Whats your favorite sand?

[lou dog420]

I am getting ready to purchase sand for a new reeftank, Whats your favorite?

 

[michellejy]

I think a lot depends on if you plan for sand sifting and/or burrowing fish

 

[lou dog420]

I think a lot depends on if you plan for sand sifting and/or burrowing fish

I do want some gobies

 

[michellejy]

I bought sand with a slightly larger grain so it would work better for burrowing. If you plan on a wrasse that will bury itself in the sand, that might be too coarse. Does that make sense?

 

[lou dog420]

I bought sand with a slightly larger grain so it would work better for burrowing. If you plan on a wrasse that will bury itself in the sand, that might be too coarse. Does that make sense?

Yes it does. I was considering the caribsea Fiji pink, seems to be pretty popular.

 

[michellejy]

I bought the Bimini Pink because it had more grain variation, but I was planning on a jawfish at the time.

 

[Kami2011]

I like the special grade arag-alive sand.

 

[lou dog420]

I like the special grade arag-alive sand.

Does it come in water or just damp?

 

[jd371]

I have the Carib Sea fine sugar like sand, I think it's called Oolite. It's a PIA to keep clean, but my Melanarus probably loves it.

 

[lou dog420]

I have the Carib Sea fine sugar like sand, I think it's called Oolite. It's a PIA to keep clean, but my Melanarus probably loves it.

I'm gonna have pretty decent flow so probably not a good idea for me

 

[michellejy]

Your sand should stay put, regardless of flow. Don't let that be a deterrent. You don't want a powerhead blasting into your sand, regardless of grain size

 

[lou dog420]

Your sand should stay put, regardless of flow. Don't let that be a deterrent. You don't want a powerhead blasting into your sand, regardless of grain size

2 mp40s on a 4 foot tank wouldn't blow fine sand around?

 

[zoomonster]

If I remember right (in my 200) I used 4 x 40lb bags of Caribsea Seaflor special grade reef sand and a 2 x 40lb bags of Caribsea ocean direct live sand (oolite version). The Seaflor is a little course but none of my wrasses have an issue with it. High flow so didn't want all sugar sand blowing around. At least when I got mine foster & smith had the best price and it was free shipping (240 pounds worth). Much cheaper than anything locally. UPS was hating me because they shipped it in 6 separate oversized boxes that arrived smushed.

 

[jsker]

I went with the black Hawaiian, it corse but looks good.

 

[jd371]

I'm gonna have pretty decent flow so probably not a good idea for me

It took a little trial and error, but I have it where the PH's can stir up the detrius without creating a sand storm. The only problem I run into is when I do a wc and siphon the sand, it's hard to siphon out the detrius without taking too much sand along with it.

 

[michellejy]

2 mp40s on a 4 foot tank wouldn't blow fine sand around?

Once it has some bacteria in it, it tends to stay put. You aren't going to be directing powerheads directly at your sand.

 

[michellejy]

It took a little trial and error, but I have it where the PH's can stir up the detrius without creating a sand storm. The only problem I run into is when I do a wc and siphon the sand, it's hard to siphon out the detrius without taking too much sand along with it.

That's what sand sifting fish and snails are for.

 

[beaslbob]

play sand from building/garden supply stores.

 

[salttanklife]

I went with the Natures Ocean bio-activ live aragonite in black and love it.

 

[McMullen]

I mixed oolite and a more course sand.